Championship draws made for 2014

DCU’s GAA clubs had little time to spend dwelling over the months gone by as excitement for next semester’s championships was very much induced by the draws made at the GAA Museum in Croke Park last Wednesday.

In the Sigerson Cup, DCU will have to wait until the end of January to find out the identity of their opposition, as they have been drawn against the winners of the preliminary round tie between NUI Galway and IT Tralee. DCU will have home advantage for that clash which is to be played on either Tuesday, February 4th or Wednesday, February 5th.

Niall Moyna’s side certainly won’t be taking anything for granted, but they’ll have unquestionably noticed that a trip to UCD in the quarter-finals is a distinct possibility. The sides met at the same stage last year and the Belfield outfit would be ravaging for revenge after a Michael Murphy masterclass allowed DCU to saunter past the Southsiders, who finished with 13 men on that occasion.

If NUIG are victorious against Tralee IT with the big ball, the senior footballers and hurlers will launch their respective campaigns against the same institute as a trip to Galway is first up for the Fitzgibbon side on January 30th. DIT are the other side in Group D, with DCU enjoying home comforts in what could be a decisive battle for second place in the pool.

The Fresher sides are also now aware of who they’ll face in the New Year. The Fresher hurlers will host Waterford IT in the first round on February 4th with the victors travelling to University of Limerick on the 13th.

The footballers, meanwhile, are straight into the quarter-finals of their championship alongside league final opponents UCC. DCU have been dealt a tricky draw, though, as they will face the winners of Queen’s University Belfast versus UCD on February 6th. However, Ross Munnelly and co. will be delighted to have been granted home advantage in what already looks like an enticing fixture, regardless of opposition.